June 9, 2009

Big shifts in the wine universe: Nicole Burke, the now-former wine director of ~EPIC ROASTHOUSE~ just got married in Ireland and is off to India for her honeymoon. When she returns at the end of month, she is going to be working at Domaine Select Wine Estates as the Northern California Regional Manager. She says, "My decision to leave the restaurant industry was motivated by my passion for the authenticity of the portfolio and the company."

And we're getting quite an import on the local scene, and I'm not talking about a nerello mascalese here: wine expert David Lynch, known for his book Vino Italiano, the leading Italian wine reference, and a former GM/wine director at The John Dory and Babbo in New York, is joining ~QUINCE~ restaurant as Director of Wine & Beverage. He will be working with Claudio Villani of Wynn Las Vegas and Incanto, and Michael Ireland from The French Laundry. This is all in preparation for when Quince opens late this summer on Pacific Avenue, and then later in the fall, Cotogna. From the press release: "he will expand Quince's wine program to introduce small, lesser-known producers from North West Italy as well as some of the fine international wines of the world. As an accomplished wine educator, he will work with the staff at both Quince and Cotogna to increase their knowledge and elevate their service. Lynch will also oversee Quince's new Italian-inspired cocktail program." Although he has been in New York for the past 16 years, Lynch's wife is from the Bay Area and wanted to return, and so they decided to move west. Lucky us.

Next Wednesday June 17th at ~THE MOSS ROOM~ is a five-course tasting menu of locally sourced seafood paired with the wines of Abe Schoener and the Scholium Project. (Pssst, there's geoduck clam and abalone and uni on the menu—you can view the PDF here.) $80. Wine pairing, $45. Inside the California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 415-876-6121.

~CRUSHPAD~ in Dogpatch is hosting their annual Open House on Saturday June 20th from 2pm–6pm. It's their largest event of the year, with over 1,200 winos turning out to taste wines and dine on tacos from their local taco truck. 2573 Third St. at 23rd St.

~TERZO~ is extending their Spring Wine Special to run through Labor Day, Monday September 7th. To recap, all bottles of wine (there are 20) priced at $40 or less are half-off for dinner guests Sun–Thu. (Dinner is defined as two small plates or one large plate per person.) 3011 Steiner St. at Union, 415-441-3200.

Boozehounds and tiki fanatics rejoice, because Martin Cate (formerly of Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge in Alameda) is going to be opening ~SMUGGLER'S COVE~ later this year in San Francisco, probably in November. The bar is going to be an homage to rum, offering traditional Caribbean drinks, classic libations of Prohibition-era Havana, and famous exotic cocktails from legendary tiki bars. The drinks will be made with top-notch spirits, fresh-squeezed juices, and house-made ingredients. There will also be plenty of rare and premium rums for sippin'. And that's not all: there will also be waterfalls, vintage nautical décor and rum memorabilia, and relics from some of San Francisco's most famous historic watering holes. Where is it going to be? Well, some avid game-players will know first, because Cate has a fun little scavenger hunt underway on his site. If you're a game-player, Eater had a clue on their site here for getting the game started.

~BUCK TAVERN~ (across the street from Zuni and Cav) got its liquor license, so now you'll be able to slug more than just beer there. They have also rolled out an updated menu, with sliders (Niman Ranch beef or free-range ground turkey), English pub-style fish and chips (cod filets), and crispy calamari, plus onion rings. Nightly happy hour until 8pm expanded to include $5 house martinis and some additional specialty cocktails. 1655 Market St. at Gough, 415-874-9183.